University of the South Pacific - Law
The University of the South Pacific (USP)'s School of Law was established in 1994 offering programs specifically focused on the legal systems of the South Pacific region.
Particular attention is paid to the legal systems of the USP's 12 Member Countries: Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tokelau, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Also included is an understanding of the laws of the region's former imperial powers such as Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and France.
The main branch of the School is located at the Emalus campus in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The School offers a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), a Masters of Laws (LLM), a Master of Environmental Law (MEL), and doctoral (PhD) study. We frequently have visiting staff and a regular flow of overseas academics and other visitors.
Because of the unique challenges to study in the South Pacific, our degrees are also available online. And in addition to offering the first two years of the LLB program face-to-face, our Laucala campus in Fiji hosts the post-degree professional diplomas in Legal Practice (PDLP) and Legislative Drafting (PDLD).
The School has a strong research profile in a number of areas, including customary law, environmental law and policy, and land law. It also manages the Journal of South Pacific Law, operates the USP Community Legal Centre, and hosts the Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute (PacLII, with assistance from AustLII).
